Folding display rack



W. H. AVERILL FOLDING DISPLAY RACK March 29, 1927. 1,622,612

Filed Oct. 14,. 1926 MMM MINIMUM!! a IW 2% R MMM Patented Mar. 29, 1927.

UNlrEo STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. AVERIL`L,"`OF BOSTON; MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO JOSEPH POLLAK TOOL AND STAI/[PING COMPANY, F BOSTON,y MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

FOLDING DISPLAY RACK.

Application led October 14, 1926.y Serial No. 141,540.

The object of this invent-ion is to provide a display rack, including "a plurality of shelves, each adapted to support articles of merchandise, and means cooperating with the shelves in forming a rack which may be expanded and located on a support with the shelves inclined relative to the support and spaced apart, and contracted or folded in compact form so that it may be stored for shipment in a container holding a supply of articles to be displayed.

Of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a top plan view showing a rack embodying the invention expanded for use.

4Figure 2 is a section on line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view, the rack being expanded.

Figure 4 is an end view showing the rack contracted or folded.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section on line 5 5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an end view of a rack which includes a greater number of shelves than the rack shown by the preceding figures.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the figures.

The rack shown by Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, comprises two shelves 12, preferably of sheet metal, parallel links 13 connected by pivots 14 with opposite ends of the shelves and adapted to maintain the shelves parallel with each other and at different distances apart, and a pair of braces 15 connected by pivots 16 with one of the shelves at points between the pivots 14 and provided with longitudinal slots 17 in which the pivots 14, connecting two of the links with theother shelf, are slidable.

The shelves, links and braces are relatively arranged to form a rack which may be expanded as shown by Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5, one end of one of the shelves 12 and the free ends of the braces 15 being adapted, to rest on a support 18 when the rack is expanded, and maintain the shelves inclined and spaced apart above the support.

The links and braces constitute the preferred embodiment of means cooperating with the shelves in forming a rack which may be expanded and located on a support with the shelves spaced apart and inclined relative to the support, as shown by Figures 2 and 3,"and contracted to locate the shelves close together as shown by Figure 4.

When the rack is -contracted it may be packed in a container with a supply of articles to be displayed, such articles being, for example, boxes containing confectionery.

The shelves are preferably provided, at their inclined edges, with upwardly projecting stop flanges 19 engaged with the link pivots 14, and at their lower ends with upwardly projecting stop flanges 20 to prevent the downward sliding of articles on the shelves.

The upper shelf is preferably provided with downwardly projecting ears 21 engaged with the pivots 16 of the braces.

When the rack is expanded, the pivots 14 connecting the higher end of the lower shelf with the higher links 13, bear on the lower ends of the slots 17 as shown by Figure 5. The operation of contracting the rack causes said pivots to slide to the opposite ends of the slots. The pivots 14 and 16 are preferably tubular eyelets, as shown by Figure 5, the eyelets which are slidable in the slots 17 being longer than the others.

The rack may include a greater number of shelves 12, as shown by Figure 6, which shows three shelves, although more than three may be provided if desired.

The employment of more than two shelves is permitted by providing the links 13 with extensions 13a and correspondingly extending the braces 15 as shown by Figure 6, the lowest shelf 12 being pivoted to the lower ends of the extensions 13a.

I prefer to connect the free lower ends of the braces 15 by a neck 28, the braces and neck being made by bending a single elongated strip. The neck provides an elongated bearing resting on the support 18 and free from liability to deface the latter.

I claim:

1. A folding display rack comprising a plurality of shelves, parallel links connected by pivots with opposite ends of the shelves and adapted to maintain the shelves parallel with each other and at different distances apart, and a pair of braces connected by pivots with one of the shelves at points between the links and provided with slots in which the pivots connecting two of the links with another shellt are slidable, the shelves, links and braces being relatively arranged to forni a rack which may be eX- panded and folded, one end of one ot the shelves and the free ends of the braces being adapted to rest on a horizontal support When the rack is expanded and maintain the shelves inclined and spaced apart above the support.

2. A folding display rack as speciied by claim 1 the shelves beingprovided at their inclined edges With upwardly projecting stop flanges engaged With the link pivots,

Lezama and at their lower ends with upwardly prf ject-ing` stop flanges to prevent the down- Ward sliding` ot' articles on the shelves, the upper shelf being provided With doivir wardly projecting ears engaged with the pivots of the braces.

3. A folding display rack as specified by claiin l, the braces being,` connected at their lree ends by a neck adapted to have an elongated bearing on a support.

In testimony whereof I have affixed niy signature.

WILLIAM H. AVERELI. 

